FROM PRESS ROW: LITTLEFIELD, MASSENGALE THIS WEEK'S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK, UNSUNG HEROES, BREAKOUT STARS, SIX TO WATCH NAMED (2022-01-17)

As we get deeper into the winter sports season the performances this year just keep getting better and better.

Athlete after athlete has been turning in huge efforts every week.

Picking athletes of the week is a challenge with so many great options to choose from.

Here is this weeks’ athletes of the week, unsung heroes and breakout stars, along with the six to watch, athletes who maybe were on the cusp of earning athlete of the week honors, or ones who are younger athletes to keep an eye on.

Reminder athletes are only eligible to be chosen once in the regular season, but then are eligible again in the playoffs.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
PAYTON LITTLEFIELD, EDISON, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
The Edison star had a big week to help the Spartans continue their win streak.

Littlefield had 27 points against Lansing, including 11 in the fourth quarter as Edison rallied for a win. She had 17 second-half points in the game.

The Edison sophomore had 15 points in a win over Odessa-Montour.

Despite being shorthanded in recent games, the Spartans keep on winning. They have won seven straight games.

RYAN MASSENGALE, HORSEHEADS, WRESTLING:
The Blue Raiders wrestler had a big week.

Massengale started the week with a pin against Elmira. The Horseheads standout pinned J.T. Guyette in the first period to help the Blue Raiders close in on a division title.

Massengale then took third at the tough Bradshaw Invitational.

While Massengale didn’t win the title, his only loss came to Tioga state champion Gianni Silvestri. Massengale’s other three matches all were wins by fall, and he pinned two of his three opponents in under a minute.

UNSUNG HEROES
NICK RAVERT, ELMIRA, BOWLING:
The Express bowler had a big series to help Elmira get one of their biggest wins of the season.

All season long he’s been a strong bowler for Elmira, but he came up huge in the big moment, rolling a 692 series with games of 233, 216 and 243.

Elmira’s bowling team handed Corning their first loss of the season.

AMARIONAH DIXON, ELMIRA, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
Dixon played a big role for Elmira in their victory over Corning.

In a matchup of state-ranked teams, a lot of the attention might have gone to the performance Megan Fedor had for the Express.

However, like Fedor, Dixon also had a double-double in the game, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to help Elmira get the victory.

BREAKOUT STARS
JAMES HARRIS, ELMIRA, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
Elmira coach Ryan Johnson said he noticed in warmups that Harris looked really ready before the game against Corning.

And, Harris carried how he looked in warmups into the game, hitting four three pointers for Elmira in the game.

While Corning rallied late to edge the Express, Harris gave everyone a glimpse of what the future could look like for Elmira, and he definitely popped up on opposing teams radar as an outside threat to watch this season.

CREED HACKETT, ELMIRA, DIVING:
Hackett shares the boys' honor this week with Harris. The sophomore had quite a week for the Elmira swimming and diving team.

First came a meet against Corning where Hackett had a six-dive score of 273.55. That score was the best six-dive score in Section 4 this season.

Hackett then had an 11-dive score of 458.80 at the Elmira Invitational, qualifying him for the state meet.


SIX TO WATCH
FAITHE KETCHUM, CORNING, GIRLS T&F:
At the end of cross country season Ketchum dealt with some injury issues.

She had to take a break from running, and just returned to action a week ago.

In her second indoor meet of the season Ketchum looked like she’s getting back into being the dominant runner she has been throughout her career.

Ketchum won the 1000 meters for the Hawks during a meet at Brockport, running a time of 3:13.97.

JOSHUA SCIBEK, HORSEHEADS, DIVING:
Scibek earned a spot in the state meet in diving with his performance at the Elmira Invitational.

While teammate Aaron Verkleeren has gotten a lot of the headlines this year, he won diving competition at The Invitational at the Glen last week and the Elmira Invitational this past weekend, Scibek will join him at states after posting a score of 478.75 at the Elmira Invitational.

Scibek had just missed the state standard at Watkins Glen and easily eclipsed the state mark (450) at Elmira.

MALAKAI OWENS, NOTRE DAME, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
The Crusaders big man had a big game against a big school on Saturday.

Facing a Horseheads team that is honorable mention in the state rankings in AA, Owens had a big effort inside in the loss.

Owens had 17 points for the Crusaders in the game and he’s really been coming on strong in recent games for Notre Dame.

AMIAH DRISCOLL, ELMIRA, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
Driscoll had a season high to help Elmira top Corning in a battle of unbeaten.

Driscoll had 10 points in the game, giving Elmira four players in double figures in the victory.


LEXI LAPIERRE, CORNING, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
The Corning players had a strong effort in a win over Norwich on Friday.